Another season in the championship awaits. A great achievement by all concerned.
Let's start off by saying a masiive thank you to 'Sir' Richard Wood who it has been announced will be leaving the club. Absolute Legend.
I think we are strong in the goalkeeper department. Whether Vickers wants to stay as a number two is another matter. We have just offered a contract to a young lad so we now have four goalkeepers.
Full backs is an area we need to strengthen imo. I expect Harding to go. I don't expect Hjelde to be back( not sure he is ready anyway). So that leavs Peltier, who i would move on but think Taylor rates him highly both on and off the pitch and will stay. Kioso has to prove his fitness but should be given a chance. Bramhall i rate highly at left back, but we will need cover.
Centre backs ! Humphreys obviously will be a major player for us. He has been outstanding and needs a strong leader at the side of him. Morrison about four years ago would fit the bill but not now. Possible he could be offered a pay as you play deal but i would look elsewhere, as i would with Bailey Wright and Hall. Taylor rates Hall highly and we have got decent results when he has played. How many games will he play though? Blackett is another i think there is a doubt about his fitness as well. So big recruitment here.
Midfield is an area where we have Lindsay, Wiles, Rathbone and Odoffin. But where is the creativity. Taylor brought in Quina and Fosu to produce that but neither did. No way would i offer either of those two a contract and i am not sure i would go for Coventry either. His contarct is up at West ham but they will have a year option on him. Not sure they will go for it. So a creative midfielder and possibly a holdoing midfield player required. i think we might have to spend to get the right player/s
Strikers. Hughill is the main man. Not sure about him but he is probably a better option than Kellly and Eaves. I would try and move Eaves on and Kayode as well. We need a fox in the box, but again we will have to pay to get the right calibre of palyer.
I would move Ferguson on as i think his legs have gone and he has had plenty of niggles. I expect Chieo to go and he will be impossible to replace. I said before i think we will need around ten new players. I also think the quality might come from loans from premier division clubs. A couple like McAtee and Doyle who the Blades got would be ideal but with our budget probably impossible. An exiting time for millers fans and i think Taylor now knows what we need. I also think T.S will back him as far as he can. See you in august
Great post and really exciting times ahead! Although we will need to spend - staying in the championship with extra tv money should loosen the purse strings a little as I think TS has realised its “speculate a little to ac***ulate!”
As you say we are great in goalkeeper department though only if no big offers come in for Viktor!
I’d like Harding to extend as he’s the most natural right back we have when played in his best position in a back four.
Bramall worries me - he has great pace and recovery but often runs into blind alleys giving the ball away. He needs more coaching on his defensive duties too.
Humphries is class but we need a strong leader at the side of him along the lines of Morrison or Hall but I’m not sure about their fitness for an arduous season.
Midfield we have workers and grafters but definitely need to spend on a creative spark and no neither Quina or Fosu thank you. I wonder if Odoffin could develop into a holding midfielder but we need to recruit there too.
Assuming Chieo goes we need two pacy wide men and as you say a fox in the box! Kelly is good to have in the squad but Eaves can go!
I can see us signing a handful of players from league 1 and Europe but also a couple of decent experienced signings - but hopefully we can bring in 2 or 3 quality loan players from top clubs - as in McAtee etc.
Busy times for Rob Scott and team! This arguably will be their sternest task to date.
I don't want to jump the gun but the penny seems to have dropped in terms of of being decisive in our recruitment based on our work in January. Obviously its another debate as to whether all those additions were a success but we were quick in getting business done so hopefully the dithering of the past is behind us.
I think Hall will sign on a permanent deal and Morrison will be asked to prove his fitness. if you can get twenty or so games out of them both alongside Humphreys then its possibly worth the risk in terms of their leadership and ability.
We need a creative midfielder as mentioned. Could we possibly tempt Barlaser back on loan if Boro go up? its certainly worth asking the question.
